The Duke's Pampered Darling is So Scheming-Chapter 131: Summer Retreat

Zhao Hanguang’s heart skipped a beat. He immediately understood they were after the Second Prince.

He hung his head, his throat tight. "I don’t know."

The prison guard narrowed his eyes. "You really don’t know?"

Zhao Hanguang gave a bitter smile. "I’m just a minor official with no influence. How could I possibly be involved in something like that?"

The prison guard lifted his chin toward the person standing behind Zhao Hanguang.

Zhao Hanguang couldn’t see anything. He could only rely on his hearing to make out the sounds and movements around him.

He heard the cold clang of metal, and then someone walked up to him.

An inexplicable chill crawled up his spine.

"It seems Mr. Zhao has grown forgetful, unable to even recall the events of three years ago. In that case, I don’t mind helping you remember. What exactly happened on the night before General Huo left the Capital City?"

Zhao Hanguang’s head snapped up!

But the next moment, he realized how strange his reaction was and hastily lowered his head again.

"I don’t know, I really don’t know! General Huo held a high and powerful position. He volunteered for that campaign himself. Who could have known what would happen later—"

A cold, sharp blade pressed against his neck, and Zhao Hanguang’s voice died abruptly.

He suppressed his frantic heartbeat and forced the words out. "...I really don’t know. Even if I die here today, I still won’t know!"

"You—"

The prison guard flicked his wrist, about to strike, when he suddenly heard the sound of slow, deliberate clapping from behind him.

A clear, deep voice, tinged with coldness, echoed in the dim and narrow cell.

"Mr. Zhao, your single-minded devotion to your master is truly admirable."

Zhao Hanguang froze completely!

His lips trembled slightly. ’That voice, that voice...’

"Shen... Shen Yanchuan!?"

’He had guessed that besides the prison guard interrogating him, there must be someone else here. He had considered countless possibilities, but this was the one he had missed!’

Shen Yanchuan signaled for the prison guard to remove Zhao Hanguang’s blindfold.

Zhao Hanguang instinctively looked in that direction.

A refined, noble face, partially hidden in the shadows, was difficult to see clearly. Only a pair of deep eyes were visible, as placid and indifferent as a deep pool, and utterly unfathomable.

’—It really is Shen Yanchuan!’

’Could he already know— No! It’s impossible! He could never know about those things!’

’But... but... why is he here? And why did he just reveal his identity!?’

’Using private interrogation in the Heavenly Prison, and even asking that question directly... Is Shen Yanchuan truly not afraid of the consequences!?’

Zhao Hanguang’s back broke out in a cold sweat.

’If he hadn’t known his visitor was Shen Yanchuan, there might have been a way out. But now... He knew all too well that the more a person knows, the more danger they are in!’

Shen Yanchuan smiled faintly. "However, whether your master will appreciate this loyalty of yours, Mr. Zhao, is hard to say."

Zhao Hanguang’s heart sank. Shen Yanchuan clearly knew all about his relationship with the Second Prince!

He wanted to defend himself, but felt that anything he said would be futile. In the end, he could only bite the bullet and say, "Please forgive my ignorance, but I truly do not understand the Princely Heir’s meaning."

The depths of Shen Yanchuan’s dark eyes remained perfectly calm.

"My offer is on the table. The only question is whether Mr. Zhao is willing to accept it."

...

"Master, why did you..." Lian Zhou couldn’t help but ask in a low voice as he followed Shen Yanchuan out. "The guards have been in the Heavenly Prison for a long time. They have plenty of methods. Surely they could have gotten something out of him."

They were in the most remote corner of the Heavenly Prison; nothing that happened here would be known to the outside world.

And yet, his master had revealed his identity directly.

"Those methods are useless on him," Shen Yanchuan said. "Xiao Chengxuan recognized his talent and promoted him. Even if he dies, he won’t say a single bad word about Xiao Chengxuan."

"Zhao Hanguang is a cautious man, sometimes to a fault. If he were to really die here today, he would probably think it’s only right for a man to die for someone who appreciates him, thus fulfilling his righteous duty."

"Right now, the person who wants him dead the most is Xiao Chengxuan. And that’s all the more reason to keep him alive."

Realization dawned on Lian Zhou, and he immediately replied, "Rest assured, I’ve already assigned men to guard him."

Shen Yanchuan nodded, then suddenly noticed several brilliant fireworks blooming in the distant night sky.

Lian Zhou followed his gaze. "That looks like... the direction of Liuwan Lane?"

Shen Yanchuan raised an eyebrow.

...

The fireworks at the Ye Mansion went on for most of the night.

Overnight, news of the Ye Family’s little drama spread through every street and alley with astonishing speed.

On every street corner, countless people discussed the matter with animated expressions and great excitement.

Princess Qingyang, for her part, arrived first thing in the morning with a full carriage of congratulatory gifts, making quite a show of it. She claimed it was a late birthday present for Ye Jingyan, but anyone with eyes could see she was there specifically to back up Ye Chutang.

Watching the servants go back and forth, endlessly carrying in gifts, even Ye Chutang felt a rare twinge of embarrassment.

"Princess, you’ve brought too much."

"Is this a lot?" Princess Qingyang asked in surprise.

Ye Chutang: "..."

’The rumors that King Yan Nan’s wealth could rival a nation’s seem to be true.’

Princess Qingyang leaned back lazily in her chair. "Well, isn’t it perfect timing with the happy occasion in your family? I didn’t know what you all like, and I couldn’t be bothered to choose, so you can just pick what you want later."

Xiao Wu immediately and eagerly held up the Furong Cake in her hand.

’The Princess is so nice!’

Princess Qingyang grinned and pinched her soft little cheek, teasing, "Looks like Xiao Wu is happy, huh? You’re even willing to share your Furong Cake with me!"

Xiao Wu’s cheeks turned slightly red.

Seeing this, Ye Chutang didn’t press the issue.

’Besides, this princess was truly rich and willful; there was no talking her out of it.’

Princess Qingyang leaned forward, a gloating look on her face. "Did you hear? Everyone thought the drama with the Han Family was entertaining enough, but you guys are even more spectacular! I heard that when Ye Heng and his family moved back to Fengling Lane yesterday, they were arguing until the middle of the night. It was quite a scene!"

That family of four was certainly a handful.

Ye Chutang had already expected as much. She tidied a few stray hairs for Xiao Wu and said, "Moving is always a hassle, especially with a whole family in tow, so it’s normal for there to be some trouble. Still, at least they’re returning to their old home. That’s a hundred times better than having to start over in a strange place."

Princess Qingyang paused, only then remembering that Ye Chutang and her siblings had spent the last three years as fugitives, constantly on the move. Compared to Ye Heng’s family, the hardships and suffering they had endured were countless times worse.

In comparison, what Ye Heng and his family were going through now was just a small lesson.

She studied Ye Chutang’s expression, but saw that as she spoke of these things, she remained perfectly calm and composed from start to finish, as if the past couldn’t stir the slightest ripple in her heart.

Princess Qingyang had never been good at comforting people, and it didn’t look like Ye Chutang needed it anyway, so she simply changed the subject.

"It’s been hot lately. I know a great place to escape the heat. Want to go?"

Ye Chutang asked casually, "What place?"

"Wulan Mountain!"

Princess Qingyang’s spirits lifted.

"When my brother was in the Capital City, he used to go there every summer!"

Ye Chutang’s brow lifted slightly.